Four things you should know before you read this article: I’ve seen “The Dark Knight.” You haven’t. I promise not to spoil anything in the paragraphs that follow. And yes, I do realize what a lucky bastard I am.

Rather than a traditional review, when it comes to the year’s most anticipated film, you just want to know one thing: Is it good? With that in mind, here are eight key factors that make a superhero movie sink or swim, and the movie’s ratings — from 1 to 10 (10 being best) — in each category:

The “Wow” Factor

This is the strongest category for Christopher Nolan’s new masterpiece. Your mouth will drop every time Heath Ledger’s Joker walks onscreen, you will want to own a Batpod, and you’ll marvel at the increased powers and flexibility in Batman’s new outfit. Nolan engineers some brilliant chase scenes, cuts together violent montages reminiscent of “The Godfather” and mixes in enough beautiful cinematography to make the film feel Oscar-worthy. Do yourself a favor and see it in IMAX. Rating: 10

The “Cheese” Factor

Nolan’s greatest triumph with “Batman Begins” may have been banishing any semblance of camp from the franchise. History has shown, however, that the longer a “Batman” incarnation continues, the more cheese begins to sneak in. While “Bam!” “Pow!” “Biff!” and nipple-suits are nowhere to be seen, there is an increased reliance this time around on evil henchmen. As these faceless minions are beaten to a bloody pulp time and again by Batman, you might find yourself a bit concerned. While it’s doubtful that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze will be the villain in the next film, all those lackeys seem like a baby step toward Schumacher-ville. Rating: 7

The “Quote” Factor

Like Jack Nicholson before him, every line out of Ledger’s mouth feels like it should be on a T-shirt. Every word from the mouths of Michael Caine (as Alfred Pennyworth) and Morgan Freeman (as Lucius Fox) are pearls of wisdom. But the Batman himself speaks a bit stiffer than in the last film, and Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent/ Two-Face won’t have you changing your e-mail signature anytime soon. Rating: 7

The “Surprise” Factor

Even if you’re the sort of Internet geek who has read every MTV.com Batman story over the past few years, freeze-framed the trailers obsessively and participated in all the guerrilla marketing, you’ll still find plenty of unexpected pleasures in “Dark Knight.” My only hesitation in this category’s grading is that the ending isn’t nearly as surprising or unpredictable as that of “Batman Begins.” But suffice it to say: Chris Nolan has no problem killing any character at any time. Rating: 7

The “Comic Book vs. Movie” Factor

Much like “Batman Begins,” Nolan continues to reinvent the characters